Kirinyaga: 11 Youth Charged for Vandalising Kutus Police Station During Gen Z Protests
- The protests on Wednesday, June 25, were marked by violence, with a group of youth vandalising public and private property
- Police in Kirinyaga arrested 11 suspects who were linked to the destruction of property at the Kutus Police Station
- The individuals were presented at the Gichugu Law Courts on Friday, June 27 and charged over the damage estimated at thousands of shillings
Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Kirinyaga: Eleven youths were arraigned at the Gichugu Law Courts on Friday, June 27 and charged with damage to public property.
Source: Getty Images
During the court proceedings, the prosecution accused the suspects of intentionally vandalising the property belonging to the Kutus Police Station. The damaged property included a perimeter fence and windows of the station's main block.
This caused the police station to incur a loss of Ksh 70,000.
Who vandalised Kutus Police Station?
According to a report by Citizen Digital, the suspects who were identified as Joseph Irungu, Brian Mutinda, Arnold Murimi, James Nyamu, Crus Githinji, Kennedy Wanjohi, Bedan Kamau, Flix Ndichu, Solomon Muchoki, Kelvin Kamau, and Boniface appeared before the Senior Principal Magistrate Kemuma Manyura.
They were represented by the Kirinyaga County Woman Representative, Njeri Maina.
The 11 were also charged with damaging a Nissan Vannette, which is owned by a civilian identified as Leah Wairimu.
The damage caused to the car totalled approximately KSh 13,000. They all pleaded not guilty and were released on KSh 10,000 cash bail with their next mention slated for July 11.
Did youth burn down Nyandarua police station?
Kutus Police Station was not the only one that was vandalised and destroyed during the period of violence.
In Nyandarua, an irate mob stormed the Ndunyu Njeru Police Station after officers arrested a group of three cattle rustlers. They called for immediate justice as they decried the increase in cattle theft in the region.
However, tensions escalated when the police officers shot a boda boda rider in the process. The angry crowd overwhelmed the police at the station and set part of the station on fire.
Videos obtained by TUKO.co.ke showed the station completely engulfed in flames as the crowd cheered and sang from a distance.
The injured rider was afterwards rushed to the North Kinangop Catholic Hospital for medical attention as he was in critical condition.
Ruto declares crackdown on suspects who vandalise stations
In response to the vandalism of public property, President William Ruto vowed to ensure that the suspects are brought to book.
Speaking to security chiefs on Saturday, June 28, at Nairobi State House, the head of state expressed concern that goons leveraged the protests.
Source: Facebook
He was further disturbed by the violence that was directed towards the police and the damage caused to police stations and other government properties.
Ruto argued that the country would be unsafe if the safety of police officers is not guaranteed, hinting at tough measures to stop the lawlessness witnessed during the protests.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
